Just ordered one for collection next week when I fly from Scotland to the US - great timing! I bought my last 2015 MacBook in a previous BB sale for $999 and will get a decent return on it when I sell it before I head.

At these prices, I'd guess we are a week or less away from updates, and venture at least 10% improvement overall, maybe more graphics wise, and new updated keyboard.

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Nope.

The new Core M chips have already appeared in other Windows laptops and been benchmarked already.

The main change this generation is basically moving from m5/m7 to i5/i7. All numbers point to <5% improvement across the board because Intel didn't even bother.

We're not getting Thunderbolt 3 or anything else fanciful either.

At most, the base model (m3) may get almost 10% improvement since the m3 model of this generation got a boost to be more comparable to m5 of last generation, but that's still no reason to pay $350 premium for it, especially since $350 premium for this generation can afford you twice the storage and the m5 model already.

Are Best Buy discounts the bell weather for updates? Any other retailers?

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Not necessarily. Best Buy had some big discounts on the 2015 rMB during the holidays 2015. It's more likely that the rMB is about to be updated because it has been exactly one year since the last update. The BB discount is one more reason that an update is likely very soon. What I've heard is that Best Buy has become Apple's defacto "outlet store" where they can sell stuff at a discount without lowering prices online or in their stores.

Can you still do the Apple care trick as stated before or is it just 300 dollars off?
What version would be the best purchase for somebody looking for a portable laptop?

I have a gaming pc so that can handle anything heavy, and I don't see a point to buy an iPad Pro with keyboard when it costs almost as much as a entry level MacBook.

I'm finishing grad school and may wanna purchase a little gift for myself and since I have been without a laptop for a year, current 2011 MacBook Pro got water damage, and I figure I might want a portable device for reading pdfs, browsing web, and travel.

The 1.2ghz 512GB SSD version is the best for the money, see Anandtech's review. However, they are going for about $1000 used on Ebay, many with warranty. Also, B&H Photo through another fan site, Apple Insider, will offer deals of $350 off.

So I'm thinking of pulling the trigger tomorrow on that M3 model and I don't really want to open a new thread. Any current owners that can speak to how Counter Strike GO runs on the M3? I don't game much but that is something I'd like to know about...

I don't need the 512GB and would much rather save the $300 if I could.

Went back and forth during the last hour of the sale trying to decide if I wanted to pick up the 512GB Rose Gold model for the wife but decided on passing. I figure at this point I may as well wait for a 2017 refresh. Adorama was only about $30 more due to them not charging tax so worse case scenario I'll pick up the 2017 model from them when it drops and I'll only be out $30 more.

Edit: Just noticing that the sale was originally $350 off in April. Probably would have scooped one up without a second guess at that price, so I guess I'm kinda glad I missed out on that one.

Edit 2: What's the best way to keep track of sales so I don't miss out on the next one?

Went back and forth during the last hour of the sale trying to decide if I wanted to pick up the 512GB Rose Gold model for the wife but decided on passing. I figure at this point I may as well wait for a 2017 refresh. Adorama was only about $30 more due to them not charging tax so worse case scenario I'll pick up the 2017 model from them when it drops and I'll only be out $30 more.

Edit: Just noticing that the sale was originally $350 off in April. Probably would have scooped one up without a second guess at that price, so I guess I'm kinda glad I missed out on that one.

Edit 2: What's the best way to keep track of sales so I don't miss out on the next one?

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